Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Waterton Lakes.
Storm slabs will become very reactive on Sunday as new snow is accompanied by a rapid rise in temperature. Strong SW winds will continue throughout forecast period making wind slab equally concerning as an avalanche problem. Watch for heavy loading.
Weather Forecast
Friday: Mainly Cloudy with Isolated flurries & trace precipitation. Strong SW wind with extreme gusts. Freezing level valley bottom.
Saturday: Flurries. 5-10cm of snow. Moderate SW winds increasing to extreme in the afternoon. Freezing level valley bottom.
Sunday: 20cm snow at Cameron Lake with 10-15cm of wet snow in townsite. Freezing level 1800m.
Snowpack Summary
At Cameron lake: 10-20cm of recent storm snow has been redistributed by strong SW wind. This has created new wind slabs which sit over a melt freeze crust. Expect the upper snowpack to become very reactive as new snow arrives on Sunday with rising temperatures. The mid snowpack is well consolidated with a ice crust forming the base of the snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches observed.
Treeline snow depth in the Cameron lake area just over 1m with amounts tapering quickly at lower elevations and in other areas of the park.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Sunday
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs will become our primary concern by mid day Saturday as the new snow will stress and hide underlying wind slab. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended on Sunday or Monday if the weekend storm materializes as forecast.
- If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Wind Slabs
Continued Strong to Extreme southwest winds have created wind slabs which sit above a crust. This could create potential for wide propagations as loading continues into this weekends storm.
- Watch for shooting cracks or stiffer feeling snow. Avoid areas that appear wind loaded.
- Snowfall on Sunday will hide windslabs that were easily visible before the snow fell.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2